BUFFALO – A former Brockport kindergarten teacher pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to receipt of child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
Roland Yockel, II, 31, of Hilton pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. said in a news release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that in July 2017, the defendant was identified by Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Special Agents in Phoenix involved in an ongoing child pornography probe with investigators from New Zealand. That investigation identified individuals who utilized an Internet based application to receive and distribute child pornography.
On May 22, 2017, and July 24, 2017, a New Zealand investigator, acting in an undercover capacity, observed multiple individuals accessing chat rooms, including an individual with the user name “Ryancba,” who posted links to image files depicting suspected child pornography. The IP address traced back to the defendant. The sexually explicit images, posted by Yockel, included pre-pubescent children.
On November 21, 2017, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s North Avenue residence. Agents recovered DVD’s containing numerous videos and images of child pornography. A forensic examination of the digital media recovered approximately 5,500 images and 247 videos containing child pornography. Yockel resided in the basement of the North Avenue residence with his parents and siblings.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 14, 2018, at 3 p.m. before Judge Wolford.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The tower at the Main Street lift bridge in Albion is pictured on Saturday.
Press Release, CSEA
ALBANY – CSEA members today decisively ratified a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement for more than 350 CSEA-represented employees of the New York State Canal Corporation.
The 10-year contract runs retroactively from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2022.
This agreement, which covers workers who maintain and operate the New York State Canal System, includes:
• raises for the last seven years;
• a lump sum bonus;
• added service award payment for 20 years of service;
• a new leave exchange program to be applied towards health insurance premiums;
• a new provision for prescription safety glasses;
• an increased safety boot allowance;
• improvements for seasonal employees; and
• the same dental, vision, and health insurance benefits with incremental increases in employee premium contributions over the last five years of the agreement.
“This agreement is fair to the state and canal workers, and I commend all of the CSEA negotiating team members for their hard work,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue.
The agreement passed the membership by a more than 2-to-1 margin with 186 voting yes, and 85 voting no. One vote was invalid.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Marcy Downey performed several popular songs from the 1950s and 1960s during a concert in February 2016 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, including Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley. The concert was part of the library’s Finally Fridays series during the winter. The series was approved again for funding from GO Art!
BATAVIA — The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council presented grants to artists and local organizations for $63,084, including for many cultural programs in Orleans County.
GO Art! has been administering the New York State Council on the Arts’ Decentralization Regrant Program for 31 years. A panel picks from applications submitted by municipalities, organizations and artists. The awards were presented last Thursday at GO Art! in Batavia.
Reach Grants for community arts groups include:
The Cobblestone Society for the Cobblestone Museum Arts Series — $4,431
Village of Holley for concerts at Canal Park — $2,100
Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina for Finally Fridays — $2,500
Village of Albion for Concerts on the Canal — $1,200
Lyndonville Lions Club for The Sound of Music — $2,600
World Life Institute for Voices from Earth: Pottery Experience in Orleans County — $3,143
Yates Community Library in Lyndonville for More than Just Books — $1,200
The Arc of Genesee Orleans for Sprout Touring Film Festival and Art Show — $2,249
Batavia Concert Band for its 2018 summer concert series — $4,180
Batavia Players for its 2018 theatrical season including the filming of Romeo and Juliet — $3,000
Genesee Chorale for its 2018 season — $4,431
Genesee Symphony Orchestra for “GSO at 71: Ready, Willing and Able” — $5,000
Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble for its autumn concert — $1,438
Gillam-Grant Community Center for Art from Every Angle — $3,748
Woodward Memorial Library for Everyone’s an Artist — $973
Town of Le Roy for Music in the Park — $776
Spark Grants are for artists teaching the process of their art in a public school setting or to adult learners:
Judd Sunshine at Albion Central School District for an Erie Canal song writing project — $3,300
Annette Taylor at Albion High School for a poetry walk called “We the People” — $1,866
Julie Lambert Coleman at Wolcott Street School in Le Roy to teach the art of paper and its influence on the human race — $3,400
Jill Pettigrew at the Batavia Senior Center to paint “Mural, Mural on the Wall” with the help of senior citizens — $4,050
Ripple Grants for projects where artists involve the community in the creative process:
Diana Martin to illustrate “Ellen’s Elephant” — $2,500
Eric Zwieg for his project, “A Killer, A Victim, A Mourner” — $2,500
Mandy Humphry to paint a mural in Batavia on the All State building — $2,500
Provided photo – Pictured from left include: Charles Bruning (Royalton Hartland), James Terwilliger (Royalton Hartland), Lance Krieger (Royalton Hartland), Franklin Laport (Royalton Hartland), Ryan Croft (Albion) and Tom Paisley (Royalton Hartland).
Press release from Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Welding students in Eric Farrell’s and John Schrock’s junior classes at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center recently incorporated many of the skills they learn in class into an interesting project. The students made a lawn roller for an Orleans/Niagara BOCES employee, Mark Standish.
“I had a sample in my shop and it involves a lot of different fabricating skills and machinery,” said Mr. Farrell. “The lawn roller ties into a lot of math the students need to learn to be a welder/fabricator, so I thought it would be a great project for them.”
The students utilized welders, saws, rollers, a CNC plasma cutter and AutoCAD, a design and drafting software to design and complete the piece. After it was finished, the Auto Body students at the center painted it a glossy black.
The Welding students were very proud of their work and said how much they enjoy their class and working on the roller. Mr. Farrell said he and Mr. Schrock like to challenge the students with having them use the fundamentals of welding to create interesting or artistic projects. In this case it was not only educational, but very beneficial for Mr. Standish.
“The students did an excellent job of building the roller and I know it will last a lifetime,” said Mr. Standish. “I was really impressed by what they achieved.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 March 2018 at 10:01 am
Yates town supervisor calls filing ‘slipshod’
File photo by Tom Rivers: The 400-foot-high wind turbines in Sheldon, Wyoming County, are pictured in October 2015. Apex is proposing turbines that would be 600 feet high in Yates and Somerset.
ALBANY – Apex Clean Energy on Monday filed a long-anticipated stipulations document, which in 290 pages details the company studies and responses to concerns about environmental, visual, property values and other impacts. (Click here to be directed to the document.)
There is now a 21-day comment period for residents and other interested parties to submit comments about the stipulations and project.
Apex is proposing to build a 201 megawatt wind-powered electric generating facility in Somerset and Yates. The facility would also include a point of interconnection substation near the Kintigh Substation in Somerset, which would deliver electricity to the New York State electric grid.
Apex would build about 70 wind turbines, access roads, electrical collection lines, collection substation, wind measurement towers, temporary construction staging and storage areas, and an operations and maintenance facility.
The 290-page document details the proposed stipulations agreed to between Apex and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Department of Public Service, the NYS Department of Health, and NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Other parties that may join these stipulations include the Town of Somerset, the Town of Yates, Save Ontario Shores, Genesee Valley Audubon Society, and Rochester Birding Association.
The project has been bitterly opposed by the towns of Yates and Somerset, and the citizens group, Save Ontario Shores. Yates and Somerset have both updated their wind energy laws, increasing setbacks for turbines by property lines, and banning them within 3 miles of Lake Ontario.
James Simon, Yates Town Supervisor, issued this statement about Apex’s stipulations filing:
Jim Simon
“After nearly 2 years of confidential stipulations negotiations, Apex Clean Energy has failed to gain agreement from either of the targeted towns on the scope and methodology of the proposed studies in any of the relevant exhibits of their Lighthouse Wind project proposal. This is very telling. They have failed to make their case to the towns, and yet they have the audacity to serve the towns and the general public official notice of proposed stipulations purportedly agreed to by several state agencies.
“I am shocked at the shoddiness of Apex’s 290-page Stipulations document. For instance, Apex claims to have an agreement with several state agencies regarding what they refer to on page 87 as “Appendix A” (Stipulation 31-1001.31 Exhibit 31: Local Laws and Ordinances, paragraph C). And yet, there is no Appendix A for Exhibit 31 – it does not exist anywhere in the document. Perhaps Apex is telling the Town of Yates that they are planning to seek a determination from the Siting Board that our updated local wind law is ‘unreasonably burdensome?’ One can only wonder.
“Getting back to this slipshod document, according to the Table of Contents, there are no appendices or attachments whatsoever. And yet, a cursory scan of the document reveals a number of appendices and attachments not listed in the Table of Contents such as Attachment 20(A) on page 90 (or is it page 46?), Attachment 22A on page 93 (or is it page 59?), Appendix A (p.263), Appendix B (p. 274), Appendix 1 (p. 192), Appendix 2 (p. 193), etc..
“This is sloppiness, ambivalence, hubris, or all of the above. And they want to build 600-foot industrial wind turbines in Yates and Somerset? Go figure.
“With regard to supposed agreements on the proposed stipulations between Apex and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Public Service, the Department of Health, and the Department of Agriculture and Markets, I am hoping that these state agencies are not being bamboozled into stipulations agreements before the 21-day Public Comment period is over. After all, they haven’t yet had a chance to consider some of the local expertise that will surely come to light from the citizens with standing in this case.
“Lastly, two weeks ago the Town of Yates sent Apex Clean Energy’s CEO Mark Goodwin a confirmed-receipt letter stating, a) that we have updated our local wind laws, b) that we have passed a unanimous resolution against the Lighthouse Wind project, and, c) that we continue to have monolithic opposition from both towns, both school districts and both counties against a payment-in-lieu of taxes agreement. The last point would mean that even if the state forced this project on Yates and Somerset, Apex would have to pay full property taxes making the project economically unviable. Mr. Goodwin’s response? Crickets. No wait, check that. His response is a 290-page monstrosity called ‘Stipulations.’
“Game on.”
Dan Engert, Somerset Town Supervisor, released this statement on Monday about the Apex filing:
Dan Engert
“The Town of Somerset is disappointed to report that Lighthouse Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Apex Clean Energy, has taken the next step in its plan to convert our entire Town into a sprawling industrial wind energy plant of massive proportions.
“Today, by publishing draft stipulations with state agencies, Apex has clearly signaled its resolve to limit the review of their project’s environmental, economic, and public health impacts. Apex has also reaffirmed its intent to trample Home Rule by having the state government ‘waive’ our local zoning laws.
“Somerset is confident that all parties will think carefully before signing any agreement that could improperly limit the review of environmental and economic impacts. A growing body of evidence shows the devastating impact industrial wind can have on people and the environment – especially in lake-shore communities like Somerset. It would be a shame if the so called ‘stipulations’ published today are used to prevent a hard look at the major bird migration route passing over Somerset, the visual impacts of 70 new 60-story towers, or the dangers to public health posed by noisy turbines.
“The only positive to take away from today’s publication of draft agreements is that the secretive stipulation process, which has kept the public in the dark for almost 2 years, is now over. The truth is that Somerset has already suffered enough economic harm at the hands of Apex. Public opposition remains strong, but unfortunately this ill-conceived project has impacted some neighbors and families who have been torn apart by the divisive and secretive tactics of a big industrial wind company. Today, as Apex continues its quest to overturn our local zoning laws, the time for healing has not yet begun.
“Governor Cuomo, I call upon you to stop the sacrifice of upstate property at the altar of industrial wind development.”
Taylor Quarles, Lighthouse Wind Development Manager, issued this statement:
Taylor Quarles
“Stipulations is a process that involves discussion and consultation with those who have registered for party status regarding the methodology and scope of studies, the results of which will be presented in the final application. Stipulations is an entirely optional process; neither Lighthouse Wind nor other parties are required to participate in the dialogue, but instead do so because they see a benefit in working to ensure the final application is thorough and complete.
“Throughout stipulations, all discussions and negotiations between parties should remain confidential. However, after making the agreed-upon changes and finalizing stipulations, the results are submitted for public comment before any party can sign. A party’s signature on a stipulation signifies their satisfaction with the extent and methods of the proposed study plan. Lighthouse Wind has remained committed to receiving public input throughout the Article 10 process, and looks forward to reviewing comments received on these stipulations prior to seeking any signatures from parties.
“We encourage readers to judge the stipulations for themselves. They will find an extensive and detailed document which is the result of extensive input we have received from over 20 involved stakeholder parties, including Somerset and Yates, all the pertinent state agencies, several local environmental groups, Save Ontario Shores, and several individuals. We remain committed to the over 100 signed landowners who are excited for the benefits the Lighthouse Wind project could offer their communities, in part evidenced by the over 20 successfully operating wind projects across New York State.
“The scope of studies proposed in this document will make Lighthouse Wind one of the most exhaustively reviewed wind projects to date. Public health and Safety (Exhibit 15) is covered on pages 24-28. Noise and Vibration (Exhibit 19) is covered on pages 31-42. Terrestrial Ecology and Wetlands (Exhibit 22) is covered on pages 49-59. Visual Impacts (exhibit 24) is covered on pages 62-78. Site Restoration and Decommissioning (exhibit 29) is covered on pages 85-86.
“All told, the stipulations document is over 200 pages long and exhaustively details the scope for each of the 41 exhibits required in our future Article 10 application. We have been diligent and committed throughout the stipulations discussions because we see it as a critical step in the ongoing process of receiving input from stakeholders and the public. As such, we are eager to review any and all input submitted over the comment period.”
Within 21 days after filing of the proposed stipulations, any person, agency or municipality may submit comments on the proposed stipulations by serving such comments on the applicant’s designated representative: Taylor Quarles, 8687 Main Street, Barker, NY 14012, or by emailing info@lighthousewind.com and by filing a copy with the Secretary to the Siting Board (Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess at secretary@dps.ny.gov).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 March 2018 at 8:37 am
ALBION – An Albion man who got out of prison about a year ago admitted to having cocaine and could face up to 2 more years in prison when he is sentenced on May 4.
Kenneth L. Thompson, 52, of North Main Street admitted in County Court on Monday that he had 0.12 ounces of cocaine in his room when it was searched by a parole officer on Oct. 5.
He was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, which carries a maximum of 1 ½ to 8 years in prison due to his previous offenses. (Thompson has five prior felonies, several misdemeanor crimes, and previous probation and parole revocations.)
District Attorney Joe Cardone offered a 2-year maximum for Thompson, and that was accepted by Thompson and Sara Sheldon, the interim County Court judge. She also insisted on three years of post-release supervision.
Thompson is currently in jail on $10,000 bail.
In other cases in court on Monday:
• Jason Schmeer, 37, of Brockport pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny for taking a credit card. He agreed to pay $485 in restitution.
He faces a split sentenced of up to six months in jail and five years of probation when he is sentenced on June 11.
• The judge is considering the next step for a Rochester woman who was in a diversion program and was in a drug treatment program near Albany. However, Georgeta M. Coleman, 19, only stayed briefly for orientation and left the site, stealing one of the counselor’s cars and driving back to the Rochester area. Coleman’s whereabouts were unknown for about two weeks.
Her attorney, Dominic Saraceno, said Coleman had a “mental health breakdown” at the treatment facility.
Coleman was charged on June 14 by the Albion Police Department after she allegedly stole a motor vehicle in Albion. She has been arraigned for fourth-degree grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree.
The judge accepted her in a diversion program, and would have reduced the felony charge to a misdemeanor if Coleman completed the program.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 March 2018 at 7:58 am
ALBION – An Albion man was sentenced to 2 years in state prison on Monday after he admitted to selling cocaine.
Patricio A. Borquez, 43, of Desmore Road in Albion was sent to state prison for attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. He admitted in a previous court appearance he had cocaine with the intent to sell it.
Borquez has downplayed his involvement in the alleged drug sales, saying he only was involved in one sale. But District Attorney Joe Cardone said Borquez personally completed several drug transactions.
Borquez faced a maximum of 3 years in state prison. He developed a drug addiction after fracturing his skull in a construction accident and using pain medication, his attorney Mark Lewis said.
Borquez, who has no prior felonies, became addicted to the pain pills and then started using heroin. He sold drugs to support his drug habit, Lewis said.
Sara Sheldon, the interim County Court judge, urged Borquez to complete drug treatment programs while in prison.
“I know I committed a huge mistake,” Borquez said during sentencing.
He insisted he wasn’t involved in multiple sales. Borquez said he became a Christian in jail “and that is what has turned my life around.”
In another sentencing:
• Matthew Engert, 26, of Holley was sent back to the county jail for a nine-month sentencne after he violated his probation.
Engert just got out of jail in January. He was on probation for third-degree assault for punching another inmate in the head at the Orleans County Jail on Feb. 14, 2017.
District Attorney Joe Cardone went over Engert’s infractions on probation, including not reporting to probation for three appointments last month, leaving the state without permission, using cocaine and marijuana, being charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to get evaluations for substance abuse, mental health and anger management.
Engert declined to have a pre-sentencing report be done, which would have pushed back his sentencing until April 23. He asked to be sentenced on Monday. He said he does better with the structure of the jail.
Judge Sheldon said many people prefer jail over the rules of probation.
“Mr. Engert, you got to straighten out your life,” she said.
• An Albion man who pleaded guilty to violating terms of his probation had his sentencing postponed by a week because the judge wants to see if he would be eligible for a shock camp.
Kolin McKain, 21, of Albion already has been on probation four times and has twice been convicted of driving while intoxicated. McKain violated probation by repeatedly using drugs and also being found with alcohol.
District Attorney Joe Cardone said McKain has a “sizable drug problem.” McKain faces up to a year in the county jail.
Judge Sheldon said McKain is young and would benefit from shock camp, which she said is run like a boot camp. She first wants to see if that would be an option for McKain.
“I think he needs an attitude adjustment and local time won’t do it,” she said.
MEDINA – Two people are facing drug charges after a home search on March 1 by the Medina Police Department and NYS Parole.
An initial search by parole officers located a small amount of marijuana, a baggy containing cocaine, and pills field identified as Hydrocodone and Ecstasy. A corresponding K-9 search of the apartment located an additional 13.2 grams of cocaine and 10.1 grams of marijuana, Medina Police said today.
Law enforcement officers also located are a large sum of money in high denominational bills, as well as three counterfeit $100 bills.
As a result of this joint investigation, the Medina Police Department arrested Collen Poole and Rebekah Champlin and charged both with:
• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree, more than one half ounce, a Class B Felony.
• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree, intent to sell, a Class B Felony.
• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th, a Class A Misdemeanor.
• Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, a violation.
Both were arraigned in the Town of Ridgeway Court. Poole was remanded to the Orleans County Jail with no bail. Champlin was remanded to the Orleans County Jail with $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2018 at 4:15 pm
Provided photo
MEDINA – A driver rammed through the side of the Dollar General in Medina this afternoon, damaging the west side of the store on Maple Ridge Road.
The incident occurred at 2:54 p.m. Orleans County dispatch said no one was injured. The Medina Police Department, Medina Fire Department and Lyons Collision have been on the scene.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2018 at 1:47 pm
‘This crisis has devastated families, wreaked havoc on our economy, and produced a generation of narcotic dependence.’ – Orleans County Legislature
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has declared the opioid epidemic a “public nuisance,” which legislators say is a first step in allowing the county to recoup costs to taxpayers in responding the crisis.
Many governments have declared the opioid epidemic a public nuisance, which is part of a litigation strategy to recoup the costs for providing services due the crisis, said Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer.
The epidemic has hit the county, with 43 overdoses last year, including eight fatalities.
The county normally wouldn’t be able to recoup costs for providing services, such as with a police chase. However, by declaring a “public nuisance,” the county intends to recover some of its costs.
“As a result of the opioid epidemic, costs related to healthcare, family and social services, criminal justice, addiction and rehabilitation, and many other areas significantly increased,” according to a resolution from the Legislature.
The County Legislature in September also voted to join a growing number of municipalities in a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies for allegedly fueling an opioid crisis.
The Legislature retained Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, a Manhattan firm, in the lawsuit. The firm is paying any upfront costs for staffing and retaining expert witnesses, County Attorney David Schubel said.
The counties are contending the pharmaceutical manufacturers knew that opioids were effective for short-term or trauma-related pain, as well as palliative (end-of-life) care. However, the manufacturers also knew for years that opioids were addictive and subject to abuse, especially when used for more than three months.
The lawsuit contends that prescription painkillers, as well as heroin abuse, are the prime causes for an increase in overdose deaths.
“Vast amounts of prescription opioids were sold, distributed, and prescribed in the County over the past several years, a practice that continues today,” the Legislature stated in a resolution. “The selling, distributing, and prescribing of large amounts of opioids in our community has created a public health and safety hazard affecting the residents of the County. This crisis has devastated families, wreaked havoc on our economy, and produced a generation of narcotic dependence.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2018 at 1:01 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has joined the Yates Town Board in opposing large-scale industrial wind turbine projects offshore in Lake Ontario.
The County Legislature last week passed its resolution against large-scale offshore wind energy development along the shores of Orleans County, which includes about 24 miles in the towns of Yates, Carlton and Kendall.
Legislator Don Allport, R-Gaines, said the state may be looking to push the projects on rural areas.
Legislator Ken DeRoller, R-Kendall, said the state should focus its renewable energy efforts on better utilizing the hydroelectric facility at Niagara Falls.
“We are sitting on the cleanest and cheapest hydropower,” he said.
The county’s resolution, opposing offshore wind in Lake Ontario, will be sent to Gov. Cuomo, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Assemblyman Mike Norris and State Sen. Robert Ortt.
ALBION – A contingent of Rotary Interact members from Charles D’Amico High School recently attended the prestigious Clarence Student Leadership Conference at the Clarence High School.
The event was sponsored by the Clarence Rotary Club and included prominent western New York figures representing education, law enforcement, mental health, media, the court system, and other careers.
Joining advisor Tim Archer included Albion students, from left: Tess Pettit, McKenna Boyer, Malory Adams, Alexa Adams, and Noah Wadhams. The Albion Interact Club holds a similar student leadership seminar of its own. This year’s seminar is entitled “Service Above Self.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2018 at 10:32 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Tim Moriarty, president and CEO of Medina Savings & Loan for the past 22 years, is pictured at the bank’s Medina site in this photo from 2013.
MEDINA – A bank with roots in Medina since 1888 announced today it will be merging with another bank.
Medina Savings & Loan Association will merge with Generations Bank with Generations the surviving entity, according to a news release from the two institutions.
Seneca-Cayuga Bancorp is the holding company for Generations Bank. The merger is expected to increase Seneca-Cayuga’s consolidated assets from $291 million at December 31, 2017 to $344 million.
Medina’s existing branch offices – Maple Ridge Road in Medina and inside the Wal-Mart on Route 31 in Albion – will become branch offices of Generations Bank and are expected to operate under the name “MSL, a division of Generations Bank” for at least two years after completion of the merger.
Additionally, two members of Medina’s board of directors will become members of the boards of directors of Generations Bank, Seneca-Cayuga and The Seneca Falls Savings Bank, MHC, the mutual holding company of Generations Bank and the 56.9% majority shareholder of Seneca-Cayuga.
“We’ve always focused on our community and what our banking clients need,” said Tim Moriarty, president and chief executive officer of Medina. “We feel that this merger is an excellent opportunity to enhance the services to and convenience for our customers and the communities we serve. Partnering with Generations will allow us to continue providing our customers with a high level of personalized service and local decision-making while preserving our values of our community bank culture.”
Medina Savings & Loan last year completed a 768-square-foot addition on the western edge of the existing 3,480-square-foot building on Maple Ridge Road. The bank in the past decades experienced growth with commercial loans, commercial checking, various types of consumer loans, home equity lines of credit, growth in the bank’s residential construction program, and expanded depository services.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, depositors of Medina will become depositors of Generations Bank and members of the MHC, and will have the same rights and privileges in the MHC, as if their accounts had been established in Generations Bank on the date established at Medina.
“We are pleased to announce our partnership with Medina Savings and Loan,” said Menzo Case, president and CEO of Generations Bank. “We are very familiar with Medina, its conservative approach to banking and its deep roots in the communities it serves. We are very excited about the future of our combined company.”
As part of the transaction, Seneca-Cayuga will issue shares of its common stock to the MHC in an amount equal to the fair value of Medina as determined by a third-party appraisal. These shares are expected to be issued concurrent with the completion of the merger.
Because the transaction is structured as a merger with a mutual entity, no purchase price is being paid in connection with the transaction. As a result, the transaction is not expected to be dilutive from a capital or earnings perspective to Seneca-Cayuga’s stockholders while increasing its earnings base. In addition, the transaction could be expected to add to Generations’ value should it ever implement another stock offering or a second step stock conversion.
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018. The transaction is subject to certain conditions, including the approval by Medina’s depositors and customary regulatory approvals.
Luse Gorman, PC, Washington, D.C., acted as legal counsel to Generations Bank and Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP acted as legal counsel to Medina.
Provided photo: The Medina Cadet guard competes at Lancaster on Saturday.
MEDINA – Medina will host a WinterGuard competition this Saturday at the high school with 22 guards competing. The event begins at 4:35 p.m. and includes the three guards from Medina.
“It is a great opportunity to see these students and adults perform without having to travel too far,” said Kathy Dreyfus, publicity chairwoman for the Medina Mustang Band.
The Boosters also want to thank the community for supporting the Basket Raffle on March 3 after postponing it because of inclement weather on Friday.
All three of Medina’s WinterGuard units competed at Victor on Feb. 17. The Novice Guard came in second place while the Cadets took first place with a score of 57.58. The Varsity guard earned first place in the Scholastic A class with a score of 68.26.
This past Saturday, two of the Medina guard units traveled to Lancaster for competition. The Cadets won first place in their class with a score of 61.51 along with the Varsity guard taking first place in the Scholastic A class with a score of 73.28.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2018 at 8:00 am
Courtesy of Orleans County Planning Department
Last week the state announced 154 addresses in Orleans County were approved for broadband access.
The state announced $225.5 million in broadband grants, including $36,699 to serve 154 addresses in Orleans County. The NY Broadband Program Round III grants will fund broadband infrastructure and support connections for nearly 129,000 locations statewide.
In Orleans, the grants include $12,758 for 51 addresses in Barre, $6,773 for 29 addresses in Yates, $5,670 for 21 addresses in Shelby, $4,568 for 15 addresses in the Town of Albion, $2,678 for 15 spots in Ridgeway, $2,363 for 15 addresses in Gaines, $12,600 for six sites in Clarendon, and $630 for two addresses in Carlton. Hughes Network Systems LLC will be the contractor for the work in Orleans.
Several Orleans Hub readers requested the specific addresses for the project. We were able to find the census tract numbers. The Orleans County Department of Planning created the map above, showing where the high-speed Internet will be going.
(Editor’s Note: The state announced that broadband would be going to some spots in Gaines, Ridgeway and the Town of Albion, but those locations weren’t reflected in the census data.)
